3550 RAM

Switches never have had socketed parts...

Hi Bob,

You may wish to investigate Cisco's Troubleshooting and Understanding POST Failure Messages:

Found on Cisco's Troubleshooting Common Issues on the Catalyst 2900XL and 3500XL Series Switches:

Hope this helps.

Brad Reese BradReese.Com - Cisco Network Engineer Directory

Hendersonville Road, Suite 17 Asheville, North Carolina USA 28803 USA & Canada: 877-549-2680 International: 828-277-7272 Fax: 775-254-3558 AIM: R2MGrant Website:

Bob,

3550 LEDs may be of interest too:

Brad Reese Cisco Repair Worldwide

Hello Brad,

Thank you for your replies with the three links to Cisco information. They all point to the same conclusion I determined -- bad DRAM. Assuming that this is a correct diagnosis, the next logical question is "What can be done about it?"

When I clicked on the URLs in your sig, I received the following messages: Server not found Firefox can't find the server at

Is your web server down? Do you do component level repair? If so, how much do you charge to replace DRAM? From your experience, can you estimate the liklihood that there are no other problems with my switch?

Bob

-- Bob Simon Please remove Xs from domain for direct replies.

I thought RAM was socketed in all Cisco devices to allow for upgrades to get more features and bug fixes from a newer, better, larger IOS. Now that I think about it, I agree that this is of greater value in a router than in a switch.

In my experience with PC troubleshooting, RAM seems to be highly succeptible to being ruined (presumably by unstable power), even more so than CPUs. So it would seem reasonable that board designers would allow for its replacement. Perhaps my experience is not typical of what others have found.

-- Bob Simon Please remove Xs from domain for direct replies.

With switches, I typically find the quad-PHY chips driving each line out get fried, not RAM chips (depending on quite a bit the environment, in data centers, not so much, but where the wiring extends anywhere out to the building edges, much more so).

SmartNet on that box is probably around $250/year, and you'll get advanced hardware replacement (ie. cross-ship), and software updates. Seems alot cheaper than paying somebody to repair the switch, although there are some repair service people offering on eBay now-a-days for electronics component repair on gear such as this.

Hi Bob,

BradReese.Com migrated to a new website server over the weekend and we apologize for any inconvenience you may have incurred, please keep in mind however that our "Request Form" is still non-operable at this time ).

Yes, we do Cisco Board Level Repair backed by our 120-day Guaranteed Warranty.

With our No Fix / No Fee Service - Non-Repairable Issues are strongly pursued for elimination as we take exceptional pride in fixing equipment where others have failed.

We also offer great Cisco eBay Repair Service:

And Cisco Software Relicensing:

Should SMARTnet be favorable over repair:

Bob, will have Reggie Grant provide you with a quote:

Sincerely,

Brad Reese BradReese.Com Cisco Resumes

I think the 3550 has a lifetime hardware replacement warranty. If it does, Cisco will replace it free of charge. You send them the bad one, they will send you a refurb.

This is very interesting. Would this be true even if I don't have SmartNet? I'll look for warranty info on their site.

THANKS! Bob

-- Bob Simon Please remove Xs from domain for direct replies.

Looks like its their standard 90 day warranty to me..

Hardware. Cisco Systems, Inc., or the Cisco Systems, Inc. subsidiary selling the Product ("Cisco") warrants that commencing from the date of shipment to Customer (and in case of resale by a Cisco reseller, commencing not more than ninety (90) days after original shipment by Cisco), and continuing for a period of the longer of (a) ninety (90) days or (b) the period set forth in the Warranty Card accompanying the Product (if any), the Hardware will be free from defects in material and workmanship under normal use.

I have't heard of Cisco ever having a lifetime hardware replacement warranty on any of their cisco branded hardware.